Dear PropellerHeads: Google added some new folder next to my Gmail inbox labeled "Buzz." It looks like Facebook or something, but I did NOT sign up for this. What's going on?

A: Many Gmail users were surprised this month to find a link to "Buzz" right there next to their inboxes. So what is Buzz? And why did Google create it?

The short answer to both questions is "Facebook and Twitter." But we're not paid to give short answers, so let us explain. [Editor's Note: These guys are getting paid? Who keeps sending them checks?!]

Buzz (google.com/buzz) is Google's answer to Facebook and Twitter, their latest attempt to jump on the "social networking" bandwagon. Like those other two, Buzz lets you "share what you're thinking" and "post a picture, video or other link" for others to see. Those others are your "followers" (a term popularized by Twitter).

Besides "updating your status," as the Facebook kids call it, you can also connect your Buzz account to Flickr and Picasa for sharing photos, Twitter for sharing "tweets" (short messages) and Blogger for sharing blog posts. There's a mobile version too, and messages posted from your phone can automatically be tagged with your location.

"But wait," you say, "I never signed up for this!" You didn't have to. Making Buzz part of Gmail automatically created millions of users without requiring anyone to sign up. Got a Gmail account? Then you've got a Buzz account too. That's one way to compete with Facebook and its huge lead in membership numbers.

But why did Google enter the fray? Again, "Twitter and Facebook," but mostly the latter. It turns out that Facebook had more U.S. visitors than Google on New Year's Eve, and that was the third time in a week that Facebook took the top spot from the search giant. Reports from Internet traffic monitoring firms (like hitwise.com) show a trend that Google isn't happy about.

There are also rumors that Facebook is building a competitor to AdSense, Google's cash cow program that serves up most of the Web ads today. Remember all that personal information you handed over to Facebook when you signed up? That'll help them determine which ads to show you. Facebook versus Google could be the next Google versus Microsoft.

The Buzz launch was somewhat controversial. Google irritated users by publicly disclosing their followers and followees, a big privacy no-no for some. Buzz also assigned followers to each user automatically, based on who had sent them e-mail in the past. This didn't go over well either, so the "auto-follow" feature was changed to "auto-suggest" instead.

Meanwhile, lawsuits and complaints to the FTC have been filed, claiming that Google's integration of an e-mail service with a social networking product violates privacy and computer fraud statutes.

We're a bit perplexed. Computer programmers are notorious for being antisocial, so why do they keep cranking out newfangled ways of interacting with others? We're happy with our two Facebook friends and our one Twitter follower, and everyone else can just... well, "buzz" off!

When the PropellerHeads at Data Directions aren't busy with their IT projects, they love to answer questions on business or consumer technology. E-mail them to questions@askthepropellerheads.com or contact us at Data Directions Inc., 8510 Bell Creek Road, Mechanicsville, VA 23116. Visit our Web site at www.askthepropellerheads.com.